Making his UFC debut, Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) used an effective clinch game to wear Frank Mir (16-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) down and keep the fight on the feet en route to a unanimous decision sweep of the judges’ scorecards.

Cormier kept Mir clinched up against the fence for much of the fight, working shots to the body with his hands and knees. Several times, the two were separated by referee Herb Dean for a perceived lack of action.

Cormier was intent on not going to the ground with Mir, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, and instead kept things standing as much as possible – even if the fans in his home training base weren’t often thrilled with the fight’s pace.

The heavyweight bout was the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 7 card at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The main card aired on FOX following prelims on FX and Facebook.